From Our Vantage Point

We are excited to be reach the big 5-0! To celebrate this special occasion, our podcast host Nav Nagra sat down with Vantage Point's former podcast host, Maria Turnbull. Maria tells us how From Our Vantage Point got started, tips for new podcasters, and some funny stories from behind the scenes! A BIG thank you to our listeners. Whether you've listened to one episode, all 49, or something in betwe...

This month, Bhupie Dulay, a registered Clinical Counsellor with a Master of Arts degree in Counselling Psychology joins us to discuss safe spaces in organizations and the meaning of safety. This episode explores what can be done to create safety from both an organizational standpoint but also as an individual. Bhupie reminds us that safe spaces exist along a continuum, not a binary. Listen in to e...

Mary Childs joins us this month to share her insights on changing your not-for-profit’s constitution and bylaws. Mary is a lawyer at the Vancouver chapter of Miller Thompson LLP and Board Chair of the BC Board of Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. In this episode she shares what to keep in mind when changing your constitution or bylaws in accordance with the BC Societies guidelines. Tune in...

This month, Deb Abma-Sluggett, Director of Philanthropy and Government Relations at Take a Hike Foundation, discusses the possibilities of board giving within an organization and dives into common misconceptions around giving. Whether you’re pro or con, Deb helps us break down the argument and explore what board giving is all about. Presented by Humanity Financial Management From our Vantage Point...

This month, speaker and thought leader, Daryl Hatton discusses the emerging not-for-profit trends in digital fundraising and what organizations can do to stay on top and innovate. Daryl uses his expertise as the CEO and founder of FundRazr to break down how organizations can rethink the relationship between digital media and fundraising. Presented by Humanity Financial Management From our Vantage...

This month, Director and Founder of Intercultural Strategies, Jessie Sutherland, brings forward thoughtful practices for creating belonging and unity on our boards and in our organizations. Jessie uses the Belonging Lens theory discussed in her TEDx talk to explore strategic ways we can transform polarized positions on boards to create deeper unity through a sense of belonging. We would also like...

Join Maria Turnbull and Jodi Rai for a fresh and energetic discussion about how to engage your most significant asset – volunteers and staff! Jodi Rai is a people strategist; Free Agent with the Federal government; founder of Humantis Consulting; board member & facilitator with Vantage Point; and board member of Check Your Head: the Youth Global Education Network. Jodi shares practical ways to...

Esther Jang, Senior Consultant with Global Philanthropic, returns as a podcast guest to share her passion for planned giving as a key fund development strategy. Whether you are new to this form of giving, or keen to understand it better – this is the podcast for you! Listen in, to learn what planned giving is all about. Discover how to create a truly donor-centred approach and integrate a planned...

Alison Brewin, Vantage Point’s Executive Director, shares her thoughts on the importance of not-for-profit organizations considering their role in advocacy. She defines advocacy and provides examples of how it can achieve mission impact and address societal challenges. This month’s topic is inspired by the book, Forces for Good: The Six Practices of High-Impact Nonprofits by Leslie R. Crutchfield...

Philip Manzano is a seasoned technology professional with a passion for not-for-profit impact, and Head of Marketing & Communications at Keela. In this podcast, he shares his thoughts on how technology provides opportunities to small and medium-sized not-for-profits. He outlines practical questions your organization can ask to identify your technology investment priorities. Philip shares key i...

Nav Nagra, a dedicated arts sector volunteer, received an exciting opportunity her inbox – a board role with the Vancouver Art/Book Fair. She took the leap into this board position in early 2018, leveraging her passion for the sector together with her writing skills. Now 6 months into her role, Nav shares tips to find a great board role, prepare for your first board meeting, and how to contribute...

For our very first panel podcast we are joined by: Veronika Bylicki, Co-Founder and Co-Director of CityHive; Vincent Gonsalves Manager, Communications and Engagement of Mobility Pricing; and Brad Roberts, Director of HR at MPA Society, to share their expertise on engagement strategies for the next generation of not-for-profit leaders. Our panelists challenge assumptions and recommend practical ins...

Gordon Holley, President and CEO of Humanity Financial Management, brings his expertise as a CPA, CA, and Certified Professional Bookkeeper Fellow to this month’s podcast. He provides clarity on how to distinguish between financial governance, financial management, and financial reporting – and why it’s important to see the differences. Come away from this podcast with a foundational understanding...

As a non-Indigenous organization, Vantage Point has continued to explore appropriate ways to engage with Reconciliation efforts. Kevin Barlow, CEO of the Metro Vancouver Aboriginal Executive Council (MVAEC), joins us for this month’s podcast to discuss the topic of Urban Indigenous Engagement. Kevin shares his perspective on suggested approaches for non-Indigenous groups and individuals to increas...

With Manning Elliott partners Navroz Janmohamed and Catherine Miller in the studio, our podcast host Maria Turnbull realized just how much she still has to learn about charitable receipting! Hear their expert responses to a number of key questions such as, when should a charity issue a receipt? And when is a gift not a gift? Learn answers to these questions and more. Tune in to brush-up on your ch...

This month, Vantage Point’s Executive Director, Denise Baker, brings forward examples of her personal self-awareness journey throughout her career. She highlights how self-awareness comes from an understanding of our individual strengths, motivations, and values. Personal goal-setting is a valuable learning process. When we have a deeper sense of self awareness, we can more successfully support ou...

Esther Jang joins us from Global Philanthropic, an international fundraising consultancy, to share recommendations for developing and executing capital campaigns. She highlights why organizations must have strong internal capacity to launch a successful campaign. Esther provides key steps to access your internal capacity – including a feasibility study, understanding your current donor relationshi...

An inspiring pair of performance arts leaders join Maria this month to share reflections from their experience in partnering, as staff and board, to drive Boca del Lupo’s evolution. Building on a deep commitment to the organization surviving its founders and a culture that’s clearly comfortable with ambiguity, Jay Dodge, Co-Founder and Artistic Producer, and Carmen Stossel, board member of Boca de...

This month, Mark Giffford shares some compelling tips for navigating a new executive director role - such as using baked goods to win over your board of directors! Mark is the executive director of Kiwassa Neighbourhood House and he shares insights from his long career in the sector and his new adventure as an executive director. Presented by Humanity Financial Management From our Vantage Point is...

Podcast host, Maria Turnbull, engaged thousands of volunteers in her 20-year not-for-profit journey, while also serving as a volunteer herself. She has often considered what impacts a volunteer’s ability – and willingness – to lead, rather than follow. For this month’s podcast, Elijah van der Giessen, NetSquared Community Organizer, and TechSoup Global Community Manager joins Maria to talk about a...

With this year’s BOSS – Building Organizational and Sector Sustainability conference just 3 months away, we are talking a lot as a team about sustainability. Kylie Hutchinson, principal consultant with Community Solutions, a small Vancouver-based firm that specializes in evaluation and program sustainability planning, shares key factors that point to greater success in program sustainability in th...

This month we venture into the Millennial “spotlight” with David Puterman, a seasoned leader, planner, and advocate for a variety of social change initiatives and programs. David has conducted research on the engagement of young adults in charitable and not-for-profit organizations. He provides some great insights such as how to bring young staff, volunteers and donors into your succession plannin...

Who better to provide perspective on key approaches to finding and engaging a Treasurer than a past and current Treasurer – and passionate board member – Gordon Holley, President & CEO of Humanity Financial. Leveraging his professional designations as a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA) and a Certified Professional Bookkeeper (CPB), Gordon outlines the roles and responsibilities of t...

Sector leaders are in for an interesting conversation in this month’s podcast: Not-for-Profit Salary Surveys: Striving for fair compensation in the sector. Trina Isakson, independent researcher and consultant, draws on her recent experience in championing an effort to reveal current not-for-profit salary levels here in the Metro Vancouver area. Trina shares her insights from that project, providin...

We have legal expertise in the recording studio for this month’s podcast, Tips on Running an Effective Annual General Meeting (AGM). Michael Blatchford, lawyer with Norton Rose Fulbright, shares his depth of knowledge on the most frequent questions we receive on AGM-related issues: AGM agendas and preparation, requirements of notice to members, impact of the new Societies Act, quorum, proxy voting...